MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Little Rock battled through seven ties and six lead changes before falling 92–72 to Milwaukee Monday night at UWM Panther Arena. The Trojans trailed by just three points at halftime and scored 36 points in the paint with 16 fast-break points, staying competitive deep into the second half of their first true road test of the season.
Braxton Bayless led Little Rock with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and added three assists, while
Johnathan Lawson contributed 15 points and hit a pair of three-pointers.
Cameron Wallace added 12 points and five rebounds, and
Kachi Nzeh provided eight points and two assists, knocking down two from beyond the arc.
Bayless kept Little Rock close early in the second half with a three-pointer to tie the game at 41, and Nzeh followed with another from deep to keep the Trojans within striking distance. Milwaukee used a second-half scoring surge to create separation, capitalizing on transition opportunities and to seal the win.
"We didn't play well enough in the second half to win," Little Rock head coach
Darrell Walker said. "We knew these road games were going to be tough. They shot the ball well and took some of the momentum in the second half."
The Trojans opened strong, answering an early Milwaukee run with key plays from Lawson and Bayless. Lawson's three-pointer tied the game at 20 midway through the first half, and Bayless's late layup and free throws pulled Little Rock even again at 38 before the Panthers edged ahead 41–38 at the break.
Little Rock continues its two-game stay in Milwaukee with a matchup against Marquette on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. inside Fiserv Forum.
"We'll watch some film, get back to work, and get ready for [Marquette]," Walker said.
